Thomas Holenstein (7 February 1896 – 31 October 1962) was a

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland *Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri *Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia *Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports * Swiss Internation ...

politician and member of the

Swiss Federal Council The Federal Council (german: Bundesrat; french: Conseil fédéral; it, Consiglio federale; rm, Cussegl federal) is the executive body of the federal government of the Swiss Confederation and serves as the collective head of state and governm ...

(1955–1959). Holenstein studied law at the

University of Bern The University of Bern (german: Universität Bern, french: Université de Berne, la, Universitas Bernensis) is a university in the Swiss capital of Bern and was founded in 1834. It is regulated and financed by the Canton of Bern. It is a compreh ...

, finishing in 1920. He then worked as a lawyer in his father's office in

St. Gallen , neighboring_municipalities = Eggersriet, Gaiserwald, Gossau, Herisau (AR), Mörschwil, Speicher (AR), Stein (AR), Teufen (AR), Untereggen, Wittenbach , twintowns = Liberec (Czech Republic) , website = ...

. Politically, he was affiliated to the

Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland (german: Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz, CVP), also called the Christian Democratic Party (french: Parti démocrate-chrétien, PDC), Democratic People's Party ( it, Partito P ...

. From 1930 to 1935 he was president of the young conservative movement of the

canton of St. Gallen The canton of St. Gallen, also canton of St Gall (german: link=no, Kanton St. Gallen ; rm, Chantun Son Gagl; french: Canton de Saint-Gall; it, Canton San Gallo), is a canton of Switzerland. The capital is St. Gallen. Located in northeastern ...

. He was elected to the city parliament of St. Gallen in 1927. From 1936 to 1954 Holenstein served in the canton's parliament, and from 1937 to 1954 he represented his canton in the

National Council of Switzerland The National Council (german: Nationalrat; french: Conseil national; it, Consiglio nazionale; rm, Cussegl naziunal) is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, the upper house being the Council of States. With 200 seats, th ...

. He was also the President of the Parliamentary Party from 1942 to 1954 and President of the National Council in 1952. He was elected to the

Federal Council of Switzerland The Federal Council (german: Bundesrat; french: Conseil fédéral; it, Consiglio federale; rm, Cussegl federal) is the executive body of the federal government of the Swiss Confederation and serves as the collective head of state and governm ...

on 16 December 1954. During his time in office he headed up the Federal Department of Economic Affairs and was President of the Confederation in 1958. He resigned on 20 November 1959 for health reasons and handed over office on 31 December 1959.

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* * * 1896 births 1962 deaths Swiss Roman Catholics People from St. Gallen (city) Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland) Members of the National Council (Switzerland) Presidents of the National Council (Switzerland) University of Bern alumni {{Switzerland-politician-stub